Bob's Café embodies the spirt of a legend. - CARLINGTON WILMOT/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
WHERE IS BOB'S Café? Where else but at Bob Marley's house? At the former location of Queen of Sheba, Bob's Café is at the home of Reggae Legend Bob Marley, 56 Hope Road. Standing at a little over five feet, its proprietor Lenny Chin tells a long tale as one of Bob's best friends in the last two years of his life. "I met Bob when I was managing a shoe store in Miami Florida. Desmond Smith was one of his (Bob) best friends and also a friend of mine; he used to always talk about me.
"So Bob said he had to meet this guy Desmond was always talking about. Desmond took him to the store to meet me and he bought two pairs of Clarks shoes from me. The next day he came by and played football with us on my mom's lawn. At that time, I managed a football team, ASMJAM-American Jamaican. Bob was my hero. I was so thrilled I couldn't believe it, recalls Chin excitedly. Bob is my hero I feel like I'm his disciple."
Owning a restaurant has never been a part of Chin's plans. He has always been involved in music, managing various bands, then he turned his attention to running his father's business. This to me is a part of a mission. I knew there was some mission I had to fulfil so I'm taking it in strides."
And taking it in strides is exactly what Chin is doing with Bob's Café one of 23 restaurants that participated in Kingston Restaurant Week from November 12-19. During Kingston Restaurant Week, the fine fare at Bob's Café, was enjoyed even before its scheduled grand opening later this month. Having just opened in April 2005, Chin said, "We want people to know that we are here and the ambience is great."
CUISINE
At Bob's Café you can get everything except the other white meat - pork. However, it's their steamed and fried fish which have the customers raving. Chin notes that they cater to everyone: "We want it to be for everyone and not limit the clientele to vegetarians. Bob Marley was a people person even though he liked his 'ital' food," said Chin.
DÉCOR
If you never knew Bob's Café was at Bob's house located in Bob's yard, once inside you cannot help but figure it out. Large photos of Marley, his children and his widow Rita occupy the walls of the main dining room that seats 24
persons. The air is saturated with the sounds of 'cultural' music, the most celebrated of the lot being that of Bob Marley.
Chin's mission he believes is to keep the memory of Bob Marley alive. "Elvis has his Graceland and since Bob is the greatest, his home has to have the vibes," noted Chin who revealed that he has plans to take Bob's Café international because at heart Chin readily admits, "I'm a rasta guy."
- N.D.
